ELECTROMAGNETIC CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR BATHTUB OR SHOWER ENCLOSURES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electromagnetic treatment system in combination with a bathtub or shower enclosure and particularly, but not exclusively, a therapeutic type enclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electromagnetic treatment systems are known and wherein electromagnetic field generating devices are placed about a person's body to subject the body or a limb to a pulsed electromagnetic field, whereby to stimulate the human nervous system to a physiological exercise. Electromagnetic pulses induce physiological effects on biological cells found in the human body and improve the functioning thereof by the stimulation of blood circulation, relaxation of the nervous system and stimulation of normal cellular cell repair and regeneration. Such a system and devices are for example described in U.S. patent No. 5,620,463.
Some of the effects of electromagnetic treatment systems can be summarized by the following examples of benefits derived, but not limited thereto, and such as improved blood circulation and the expulsion of lactic acid through perspiration, the stimulation of cell generation as mentioned above, recalcification of bone cells, decalcification of soft tissues, the neutralization of free radicals, the reestablishment of electrical potential in cells, the stimulation of electro-chemical cells, stress relief, favoring the
absorption of vitamins and minerals and aligo-elements and the improvement of the absorption of molecules such as essential oils.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is a feature of the present invention to provide an electromagnetic treatment system in combination with a bathtub or shower enclosure and more specifically, but not exclusively, a therapeutic type enclosure, and wherein a user person can benefit from an electromagnetic treatment system as well as the other therapeutic benefits obtained from the bathtub or shower enclosure.
According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided a method of obtaining an electromagnetic treatment in a treatment area of one of a bathtub or shower enclosure, as well as the therapeutic benefits obtained from such enclosures.
According to the above features, the present invention provides an electromagnetic treatment system in combination with a bathing enclosure adapted to receive a user person. The electromagnetic treatment system comprises an electromagnetic coil attached to an outside surface of the wall of the bathing enclosure and surrounds a space in the enclosure where the user person is disposed to undergo an electromagnetic treatment. A pulsating voltage generator is connected to the electromagnetic coil for generating a pulsating electromagnetic field about the coil. The electromagnetic field is oriented relative to the space. Control circuit means is provided for controlling the generator. A remote control is secured to the enclosure
and accessible to a user person for actuating the generator through the control circuit means .
According to a further broad aspect of the present invention, the method provides an electromagnetic treatment to a person disposed in a treatment area of one of a bathtub or shower enclosure. The method comprises the steps of providing such an enclosure with an electromagnetic coil attached to an outside surface of a wall thereof, and surrounding a space in the enclosure where a user person is disposed to undergo an electromagnetic treatment. A remote control is accessible to the user person. The method also comprises actuating a pulsating voltage generator by the remote control, whereby the coil generates a pulsating electromagnetic field into the space for a predetermined period of time to subject the user person to the electromagnetic treatment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described- with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a therapeutic bathtub provided with the electromagnetic treatment system of the present invention, as well as one or more therapeutic systems;
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing some of the essential components of the electromagnetic treatment system; Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to
Figure 1, but showing the electromagnetic field pattern generated by the electromagnetic coil;
Figure 4 is a perspective frontal view showing a shower enclosure equipped with an electromagnetic treatment area about which the electromagnetic treatment system is disposed for a user person to undergo such treatment; and
Figure 5 is a rear fragmented perspective view of the shower enclosure in Figure 4, showing the disposition of the electromagnetic coil.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown generally at 10 a bathtub enclosure. The bathtub enclosure 10 may be a standard type bathtub in which water is admitted for a person to bathe therein. However, as illustrated in this figure, the bathtub enclosure is a therapeutic bathtub enclosure provided with a therapeutic treatment system, which is comprised of an air blower 11 connected to ducting 12, which is in communication with holes 13 providing jets within the side walls 14 of the bathtub enclosure, through which massaging air streams exit to provide a massage therapy to a user person disposed within the bathtub enclosure. Such therapeutic bathtub enclosures are well known in the art. The therapeutic bathtub is also provided with a chromo therapy treatment by the generation of light into the water through a LED lamp 15 located at a convenient location in the sidewall 14 of the bathtub enclosure.
The electromagnetic treatment system of the present invention is used in combination with such a therapeutic bathtub and comprises an electromagnetic coil 16, which is attached to the outer surface 14' of the
sidewalls 15 by means of attachment brackets 17. The electromagnetic coil 16 is an electrically conductive cable secured about the circumferential side wall of the bathtub and in a substantially horizontal plane and defines within this coil or loop a treatment area.
As shown in Figure 2, the coil 16 is connected to a pulsating voltage generator 20, which is located in the housing 19 also secured to the outer surface 14' of the circumferential sidewall 14 for generating a pulsating electromagnetic signal into the coil 16. The coil thus generates a pulsating electromagnetic field thereabout, as illustrated by the electromagnetic field pattern 21 in Figure 3. The generator 20 is controlled by a control circuit 22, which also has a timer device 23 whereby to actuate the generator 20 for a predetermined period of time, usually within the range to 10 to 15 minutes. The generator generates a pulsating voltage at a pulse frequency which does not exceed 60 Hz.
As shown in Figure 3, the intensity of the pulsating voltage signal flowing through the coil 16 is sufficient to produce an electromagnetic field pattern 21 which can extend only within the treatment space 25', which is central to the bathtub enclosure. Accordingly, a person sitting in the bathtub 10 will undergo an electromagnetic treatment by the pulsating electromagnetic field and for a predetermined period of time, as set in the control circuit 22. The user person can actuate the system by the remote control 26 accessible to him on the bathtub enclosure at a convenient location.
With reference now to figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that a shower enclosure 30 may also be adapted
with the electromagnetic treatment system of the present invention. This shower enclosure 30 can be a normal shower enclosure or a therapeutic shower enclosure provided with a therapeutic system not shown herein, but described in a co-pending patent application, and wherein hot dry air is circulated within the enclosure to subject a user person to a therapeutic treatment. As herein shown, the shower enclosure 30 also delineates a treatment space 31 which is herein provided in a corner area 32 of the shower enclosure. The corner area may be fitted with a seat 33 for a person to sit on while undergoing an electromagnetic treatment. Above the sitting area, there is herein shown a backrest portion 34 secured to the side walls 35 of the shower enclosure. As shown in Figure 5, the electromagnetic coil
36 is secured in a vertical plane and disposed in alignment from under the seat 33 and about the back rest 34, whereby the electromagnetic field pattern 37 is generated, as shown in Figure 4, and all about the user person sitting on the seat 33.
Having thus described two examples of the use of the electromagnetic treatment system, the method can be summarized as follows:
A user person positions himself in the treatment area of either the bathtub enclosure 10 or shower enclosure 30 and by the use of the remote control 26, conveniently accessible to him, actuates the voltage generator through the control circuit, whereby the coil generates a pulsating electromagnetic field into the space for the predetermined period of time as dictated by the time device associated with the control circuit. If the bathtub and shower enclosures are therapeutic-type
enclosures, then the user person can actuate one or more therapeutic treatment systems prior to or after an electromagnetic treatment system, or in combination therewith (simultaneously) , thereby obtaining beneficial effects from these alternative therapeutic treatments. As previously described, the electromagnetic treatment system is beneficial in providing improved blood circulation and the expulsion of lactic acid by the stimulation of the cellular system. It also provides recalcification of bone cells and decalcification of soft tissues. It also neutralizes free radicals and reestablishes the electrical potential of cells. It also stimulates electro-chemical cells and releases stress, as well as favoring the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and improves the absorption of molecules such as essential oils. With the therapeutic bathtub enclosure 10, as shown in Figure 1, if oils are introduced within the water within the bathtub, the stimulation treatment permits the skin to better absorb such oils, thus providing an added benefit to the user person's skin.
It is within the aim of the present invention to provide any obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.